Trident Micro Systems and Aeroflex Announce Memorandum of Understanding for PassPort Trunking Technology.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

WICHITA, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 18, 2003

Trident Micro Systems and Aeroflex Incorporated (Nasdaq: ARXX), a New York based company, announced today that the two parties have signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding. This agreement is an interim step while the parties continue negotiations for Trident Micro System's PassPort(R) protocol to be used in Aeroflex's wireless communications test systems.

Under a final license agreement, Aeroflex would incorporate the Passport protocol into the IFR2975 radio test set providing customers with the ability to analyze the Passport technology currently deployed in the Land Mobile Radio market.

Passport is an advanced trunking protocol developed by Trident Micro Systems. Passport was engineered to provide system operators with maximum operational flexibility and efficiency with wide area trunked networking and by utilizing sub-audible signaling.

Rhett Grotzinger, Vice-President of Trident Micro Systems, stated, "Passport technology is firmly established as a premier trunking technology for Land Mobile Radio communications. With a rapidly growing installed base over 800 sites worldwide, Passport continues to be the choice of radio communication professionals for reliable and advanced trunked and networked wireless two-way communication systems. This MOU and subsequent license agreement will allow Aeroflex to sell the IFR2975 to new and existing customers utilizing Passport technology."

Rob Barden, Senior Product Marketing Manager, said, "The incorporation of Passport technology into the IFR2975 radio test set will expand the market for advanced wireless communications test functions for this test system. We are looking forward to being able to support the latest trunked protocol that is experiencing significant growth in the wireless communication market."

About Aeroflex

Aeroflex Incorporated is a global provider of high technology solutions to the aerospace, defense and broadband communication markets. The Company's diverse technologies allow it to design, develop, manufacture and market a broad range of test, measurement and microelectronic products. The Company's common stock trades on the Nasdaq National Market System under the symbol ARXX and is included in the S&P SmallCap 600 index. Additional information concerning Aeroflex Incorporated can be found on the Company's Web site: www.aeroflex.com.

About Trident

Trident Micro Systems designs and manufactures innovative high quality infrastructure products for trunked radio system operators worldwide. These include the industry leading LTR trunking controllers and the NTS Networked Trunking System family of products. Trident's PassPort trunking protocol is licensed by many leading radio equipment manufacturers. Trident Micro Systems parent company is Trident Datacom Technologies Inc. and is headquartered in Arden (Asheville), North Carolina. More information is available at Trident's web site: www.tridentms.com.

All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release regarding Aeroflex's financial position, business outlook, business strategy and plans and objectives of its management for future operations are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend" and similar expressions, as they relate to Aeroflex or its management, identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs of Aeroflex's management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to its management. Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including but not limited to, competitive factors and pricing pressures, the integration of the business of each of MCE Technologies, Celerity Systems and the Racal Instruments Wireless Solutions Group with Aeroflex, changes in legal and regulatory requirements, technological change or difficulties, product development risks, commercialization difficulties and general economic conditions. Such statements reflect our current views with respect to the future and are subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to Aeroflex's financial condition, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. Aeroflex does not undertake any obligation to update such forward-looking statements.